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Saarinen Terminal to Reopen at Kennedy Airport

By David W. Dunlap February 21, 2008 3:22 pmFebruary 21, 2008 3:22 pm

This aerial view of Kennedy International Airport shows the former Trans World Airlines terminal by Eero Saarinen at the far left. The new JetBlue Airways terminal and the trumpet-shaped flight departure lounge is at far right, at the end of the long JetBlue concourse. (Photo: David W. Dunlap/The New York Times)

After a long darkness, the Trans World Airlines terminal at Kennedy International Airport — that abandoned embodiment of the “Come Fly With Me” era of jet-setting — would reopen this year, under a plan advanced Thursday by the Port Authority.
The authority’s board approved a $19 million project to perform the essential repairs needed to allow travelers to pass through the 46-year-old terminal on their way to the enormous new JetBlue Airways terminal that wraps around the T.W.A. building in a crescent shape.

Both buildings are known as Terminal 5. The hope is to open them simultaneously this fall, said William R. DeCota, the aviation director for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. If not, he said, the T.W.A. building — an official landmark designed by the architectural giant Eero Saarinen — would reopen soon thereafter.

Except for a brief stint as an exhibition gallery in 2004, the Saarinen terminal has been closed since T.W.A. ended operations in October 2001. The main terminal building, called the headhouse, and two tubular departure-arrival corridors have been preserved. Those corridors will connect the Saarinen and JetBlue terminals.

“When Terminal 5 launches in fall,” JetBlue says on its T508.com Web site, “customers will have the option of checking in at a JetBlue kiosk in the Saarinen building and taking in this landmarked architectural wonder’s exquisite modernist design on their way to our new terminal.” The airline has already adopted the gull-winged profile of the T.W.A. building into its Terminal 5 logo.

Before it can reopen, Mr. DeCota said, asbestos must be removed, deteriorating exterior concrete and interior tilework must be repaired, sections of the roof must be replaced and life safety systems must be improved.

One element of the Saarinen building will almost certainly not be salvaged.

That is the trumpet-shaped flight departure lounge that used to sit at the end of one of the tubular corridors. Last year, at a cost of about $800,000, it was cut apart from the rest of the structure and moved about 1,500 feet to get it out of the way of construction crews while preservationists, airport officials and airline executives tried to figure out if it could be reused feasibly.

Though Mr. DeCota declined to say flatly on Thursday that there was nothing to be done with the “trumpet” structure, he hinted strongly that the money needed to thoroughly rehabilitate it, which he put at more than $10 million, would be better spent on the Saarinen headhouse.

The Municipal Art Society, a civic organization that belongs to the redevelopment advisory committee involved with the Saarinen building, believes that any decision to remove the “trumpet” structure would be “premature, fiscally irresponsible and historically inappropriate,” said Frank E. Sanchis III, its senior vice president.

Many a good memories of flying Trans-Atlantic flights to and from Paris/London. This building would serve as a goodbye marker leaving New York and a Welcome one upon returning- either way leaving a grand impressionistic capture. Nice to see it will still be publicly available…looking forward to its mighty return

Initially, I knew the building only from architectural journals, where all interior shots were taken without people (a lamentable habit of arch. photography in general). I received a (very pleasant) shock when I first experienced it in the flesh, seeing how the “contrapunctual” streams of people on opposing ramps “celebrated” the movement of people through the building, an essential feature of terminals in general. I hope this circulation pattern has been preserved, not the least as a lesson for arch. photographers!

I used to travel on TWA to California on business many times a year and my favorie part of the trip always was departing and coming home to this terminal. It’s one of the grandest buldings ni New York, in my opinion, very warm and comfortable and so perfectly 1960s — when flying was still exciting. I remember as a kid going there and I still remember how fascinating everything about the aiport seemed, this building included. It’s a shame that flying is now about as romantic as a trip to the dentuist.

It was for a long time the best terminal in America. I still have my lifetime
TWA lounge membership, which I purchased several years before TWA folded. The mezzanine first class lounge at Terminal 5 epitomized the Jet Age era of flying, before the business of flying became such a high-volume bus-like experience. Waiting to depart from T5 was a pleasurable experience. Looking forward to seeing it re-open.

It is difficult to make out the “trumpet” appendage at the end of the JetBlue concourse. Here is an extreme close-up of the same view showing the triangular trumpet more clearly, in the center of the frame.

I spent many times in the TWA lounge and it was beautiful but just couldn’t handle the flow of passengers traveling today. Glad to see they are saving it but don’t go too far since many new airports around the world are being built to much fan fair. Take a look at Gimpo in Korea, Hong Kong and the new Air France terminal at CDG.

Oh and to the guy talking about Ben-Gurion, perhaps you need to look into professional help.

The stint as an exhibition gallery in 2004 was VERY brief – just one evening. After a rowdy crowd at the pre-opening reception caused some damage to the building the Port Authority cancelled the exhibit, and the general public never got to see the building.

Can’t wait to use this terminal again! My last time there was December 31, 1999, on an evening flight to New Orleans. The terminal was almost completely empty (remember Y2k fear of flying?) so I was able to wander around and enjoy the beauty of the architecture without all of the crowds. It was absolutely stunning, and a very fond memory.

The Trumpet was moved to a very specific location at the end of the new jetBlue main concourse; this location and the principle that it would be integrated with the new gate lounges was agreed upon by the Port Authority, jetBlue. Furthermore their architects developed plans to restore its skin and unique interior and for alternative uses; the only remaining decision was whether it would be used as a lounge or for a more commercial use such as a cafe or bar. It now sits above a foundation specifically poured for it, and will in no way compromise the new terminal operations even if it remains in its current condition indefinitely. It would be a tragic loss to sacrifice this unique, historic structure for no good reason.
Hal H. Hayes, AIA; consultant to the MAS for the TWA Terminal Rehabilitation

I loved exploring this terminal as a teenager in the 1960s. The exciting, dramatic architecture perfectly symbolized 1960s jet-set cool. There are some stunning shots of it in the ending scenes of the brilliant 1969 Jack Lemmon / Catherine Deneuve film, The April Fools. In the early 70s I worked in that terminal during my summer job as a customs inspector. It brings back the warmest memories.

This historic building should be saved in all its elements, including the trumpet (Flight-Wing departure lounge).
If over 3/4 of a million dollars was spent to move the trumpet, then a few more dollars spent ‘to put it to use’ seems appropriate.
Even if you trash it, more money needs to be spent, may as well put it to a POSITIVE use.

The TWA terminal gave you such a special feeling. Not only as passenger, also for the people who worked there. It made you proud, to belong to a unique goup and enjoy the classic setting of th
is beautiful building.

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